Boston Hot Dog Company: The Best Thing I Ate There
Salem, Massachusetts is, among other things, home to arguably the best place to grab a unique hot dog meal. The Boston Hot Dog Company has been thriving for over 15 years. I recently frequented this legendary establishment, and here I’ll detail the best thing I ate.
First, here is what you need to know about this specialty restaurant. Boston Hot Dog Company is located at 60 Washington St, Salem.
On the way home from a sports road trip, I realized we were driving right near this place. An unplanned, spur of the moment, “I’m starving, let’s pull over moment,” led to a chance encounter with a place I’ve longing to try.
Now, I am by no means an enthusiast, nor have I consistently reviewed such cuisine items. However, I do have an intrigue for places that specialize in one particular item, and can hit it out of the park. Speaking of which, it’s almost baseball season, and hot dogs are synonymous with going to a ball game.
The Boston Hot Dog Company Menu
There are 11 different hot dogs on the menu. Though you could request it, there is no hot dog that is served just plain. There is the “classic” section, which is where you will find a corn dog, or the O.G. with relish, onion, and mustard. You can also build your own, where you can add four toppings of choice.
Then, you have the specialties. This is where things get wild and where my interest went as a tourist visiting. Though there is a short rib dog and a perro loco dog (chorizo, pico de gallo, cilantro lime cream, cotija cheese, and avocado), I had to revert back to the carnival dog.
Here’s why: it checked all the boxes. The hot dog (or burger, for that reason) simply has to be amazing on its own. That means the hot dog has to be the star of the show, not hidden by the other explosive tastes on top.
The Carnival Dog
It had the basics, but with a kick. This is essentially a chili dog. At Boston Hot Dog Company, this item is topped with house made chili and beer cheese.
Upon receiving my order, I immediately noticed it passed the first test. The presentation looked like an artisan hot dog. Nothing was just slopped together. Dare I even say: it was Instagramable.
The carnival dog required a pile of napkins and I completely welcomed it. It was the perfect balance of tastes. Though the chili certainly tried, the hot dog took center stage, reminding you that it is the foundation of the meal. The beer cheese put it over the top. It was not overbearing. It accented the hot dog, serving as a perfect compliment that was perfectly content serving in its supportive role.
A shared plate of French fries also had its place at our table. Similar to chips with a sandwich, the hot dog was great when we opted to finish the fries (basically the dessert) so that the hot dog was the last flavor enjoyed.
I’m now looking for the chance to go back to Salem, or drive through the area. The Boston Hot Dog company is a food “experience.” With all their items made fresh they say, “You’ve never had a gourmet hot dog quite like this.”
My sentiments exactly.
